Testing-joint for electric conductors



(No Model.)

B. L. TOQUET. TESTING JOINT FOR BLBGTRIO GONDUGTORS. No. 562,261.Patented June 16, 1896.

ATTORNEYS ANnREW B.GRAHAM PHOTU-UTMQWASHINFIDN. nc

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN LOUIS TOQUET, OF \VESTPORT, CONNECTICUT.

TESTING-JOINT FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,261, dated June 16,1896.

Application filed April 14, 1896. Serial No. 587,466. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN LOUIS To- QUET, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at lVestport, Fairfield county, Connecticut,have invented Improved Testing-Joints for Electric Conductors, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide for telephonic, telegraphic, orother electric line -wircs a joint which will permit electricalconnection between different sections of an electric line-wire ofconductor to be broken without disturbing the mechanical connection.

It is a common practice, when there is a break on an electric line, tosend out a lineman to locate the break by testing the line at intervals.For this purpose he cuts the conductor, making both a mechanical and anelectrical break in the line, to connect up his testing instrument tosee if the breakdown is ahead or back of the point of testing on theline. After making the test, the cut made by the lineman has to berepaired by means of a connector. Thus in addition to the cost and delayof making this repair, the line in time gets patched up with manyuseless joints which increase the liability to breakdowns and badconnections. To remedy this, I have devised a joint which can be appliedto the line-wires at intervals wherever suitable or desired, either whenthe line is built or afterward, and which will enable a lineman to cutthe electrical connection in the line without mechanically severing it.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l. is a sectional view illustratingthe preferred form of my joint as applied to adjoining ends ofelectrical conductors. Fig. 2 is a plan or side view of the frame oryoke. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4c isa sectional view on the line a 4, Fig. 1.

In the form of testing-joint illustrated in the drawings, the frame orbody part of the joint is made in the form of an open yoke Y, which isperforated at is opposite ends for the passage therethrough of theelectrical conductor ends 0 and 0. One of these conductor ends iselectrically as well as mechanically connected to the frame,which is ofconducting material, while between the other conductor end and the yokeis interposed a suitable insulation, in connection with which isprovided an adjustable contact, by moving which the yoke may beelectrically connected to the other conductor end across the insulation,or may be electrically disconnected from said conductor end.

As a convenient way of connecting the conductor ends to the frame oryoke, I provide a connector-sleeve S (S',) such as forms the subject ofmy Letters Patent No. 557,037, dated March 2%, 1896. Each of theseconnector tubes or sleeves S (S) is provided with a holding-shoulder s(s) to engage with a part on the yoke to take up the pulling strain.Each conductor end is introduced into its sleeve and secured therein byindenting it at suitable points, as described in my abovementionedLetters Patent. I do not wish to restrict myself, however, to thisparticular manner of securing the conductor ends to the yoke or frame.

Between the sleeve S with its shoulder s and the frame or yoke Y thereis introduced an insulating-bushing B. The adjustable contact betweenthe frame or yoke Y and the conductor 0, or its sleeve S, mayconveniently be in the form of a metallic screw X, threaded into the endof the yoke or frame Y at right angles to the line of the conductor, sothat by screwing down this contact-screw, good electrical connection maybe made across the insulation B between the yoke or frame Y and theconductor 0', while upon screwing back this contact X, electricalconnection may be broken without disturbing the mechanical connectionbetween the wires C and C.

These testing-joints may be put into the line when it is built, or atany time afterward, at suitable intervals, so that a lineman, wishing tolocate a brake, simply goes to the successive testing joints, breaks theelectrical, without disturbing the mechanical, connection, by openingthe contact X and applying his testing instrument. Electrical connectioncan then be restored by simply turning down the screw X.

I claim as my invention- 1. Atesting-joint for electrical conductors,consisting of a frame connecting conductor ends, with an interposedinsulation and an IOC I 5 the conductor ends are connected with aninsulating-bushing interposed between one of the shouldered tubes andthe yoke and a contact-screw carried by the yoke and adapted to passthrough the insulation to make or break contact between the yoke and theconnector-tube on the conductor end, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN LOUIS TOQUET.

Witnesses:

BENJ. H. TooUET, HUBERT HOW'SON.

